Collapsible canopy structure



Sept-'21, 1954 o, SARTQR] 2,689,579

COLLAPSIBLE vCANOPY STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 8, 1950 3 Sheds-Sheet 1. Z

INVENTOR. svALuo F. smz'rolzl ATTOQNEYS Sept. 21, 1954 o. F. SARTORI COLLAPSIBLE CANOPY STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-$heei 2 Filed Dec 8, 1950 INVENTOR. OSVALDO F. Smrrcm BY ATTO QNEY-S Sept. 21, 1954 o. F. SARTORI COLLAPSIBLE CANOPY STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 8, 1950 INVENTOR. O5VALDO F. San-r0 m ATTonNEYs Patented Sept. 21 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible canopy structures.

An object of this invention is to provide a collapsible canopy structure in which the U-shaped bows each have a two section crossbar extending between the side bars, with the outer ends of the crossbar being pivoted to the side bars and the inner ends of the crossbar being connected together for hinged movement from the position of axial alignment to a collapsed position.

An object of this invention is to provide a collapsible canopy structure wherein the hingedly connected inner ends of the two section crossbar of each U-shaped bow when swung to the axial alignment position are releasably locked together.

A further object of this invention is to provide a collapsible canopy structure wherein stop means is provided on the hingedly connected inner ends of the two section crossbar of each U-shaped bow for limiting the hinged movement to the axial alignment position.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a collapsible canopy structure constructed according to the present invention shown detachably secured to a boat and forming a protective hood;

Figure 2 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the collapsible canopy structure shown in Figures 1 to 3 and illustrated with the canvas removed, and showing the collapsed position in phantom lines;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a central portion of one of the collapsible bows, showing a lock sleeve for maintaining a bow in its extended position;

Figure 5A is a fragmentary perspective view of the right-hand end portion of the sleeve of Figure 5;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged, exploded, fragmentary, front elevational view of the collapsible canopy shown in Figure 2;

Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a bracket for detachably securing the canopy structure to the boat;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary, elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a modified form of the collapsible bow of the canopy structures of the present invention;

Figure 11 is an end elevational View of a canopy structure constructed to the present invention supported on the open body of a vehicle, with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the canopy structure shown in Figure 11, with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 13 is a front elevational View of a collapsible awning structure constructed according to the present invention, with parts of the awning cover broken away; and

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-! 4 of Figure 13.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, in accordance with the invention a protective hood It! for a boat ll embodies a plurality of U-shaped bows l2 operatively connected together for movement from a position in spaced confronting relation with respect to each other to an extended or expanded position, Figure l, in diverging relation with respect to each other. Since each of the bows I2 is of like structure, it will suflice to describe only one in detail.

Each of the bows l2 embodies a pair of straight side bars l3 and I 4 disposed in spaced, parallel relation with respect to each other, and a twosection cross bar 15 disposed transversely between the side bars I3 and I4 with opposite ends thereof pivotally connected to the side bars 13 and M at their outer ends by pins Iii. As clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6, a locking hinge 20 pivotally connects and is disposed between the two sections H and H of the crossbar i5, whereby movement of the side bars I3 and I4 toward each other collapses the crossbar l5 inwardly into a position between the side bars 13 and I4, as illustrated in phantom lines in Figure 4. l

The locking hinge 29 illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 comprises a first plate or disc 2! fixed ec centrically on the adjacent end of the section If of the crossbar l5 and a bifurcated second plate or disc 22 fixed eccentrically on the adjacent end of the section I! of the crossbar I5. The plate 2| is received within the bifurcation of the plate 22 and is disposed in abutting and confronting relation with respect to the latter, the plates 2! and 22 being operatively connected together by a hinge pin 23 which extends transversely through the plates and pivotally connects the sections H and I? together for movement from an extended bar it? is -ado'cking*sleeveifa, thesleeve having on one end, Figure 5A, a notch 26 which, when the sections ii and ii are in the end-to-end aligned position, is in alignment with the-slots Z l ofthe plates 2i and 22. To look the sections i1 and l'i in the end-to-end aligned position; the sleeve 25" is rotated sufficiently to causevthe end-portion adjacent the notch 26 to engage the registering slots 25 of the plates 2% and 22, as shown' inFigures 5 and 6. Fixedly secured to the section i? is a'stop lug2? 'whic'hi engaged in a circumferentiallyaextending;slot 28' providediin the outer" end of theisleevei e viorholding .thesleeve against longitudinalidisplacement on the section it and for limiting the: rotarymovement of the latter,

As clearly shown iniFigures 4 1 and: 7, the f reel orouter; ends of. theiadjacentaonesuof the sideibars as and idiof theiusshapedbowsare curvedto ward each other;v lnthetembodimentillustrated, iour'u-shaped hows'i are employed", the bows being designated by-ithereference'numerals dd Si, 32 and 33. Thebow- 3011s fixed in a horizontal position; whileitheiihows 31 l32-=and 33 are pivotal ly connectedztogethenby'meansofsa bolt ii l'which' extends transversely through the? inner; ends thereof: for connecting thebowsior movement from the divergent positioniof Figure 3 to the sideby-side positionillustrated iniphantom lines therein. Bositionediatithe laterally inward sides of the sidebars of'the outerbow 38 areitheibraoketi Since the bracketv plates or arms? 35: and 36; plates are .of like structure and their: operative positionszare'thesame; it will suffice to describe only one in detail.

The :bracket plate 3 5 is'in'ith'e shape of a qu adirantuof' a circle, provided with cireumferentially' spaced, radially extending recessestl engageable with the bows 3i, 32221116. Sa'fonmaintainingsaid.v

bows in the. extended.position'illustrated in Figure l. Dependingly carriedibythe: plate 35' is a' base 33 for effectingthessecurernent of the canopy Hi to the boat it. suitaolemeans areiprovi'dedfifor;

clamping. the. bows? together and against the tween the-clamping plate 35: and lock Washer d i and a'nute is:threaded ontheloolt 35 for selectively varying-thetension of the spring 353. A siniassembly including asprrng zand a wing nut 13 13 operatively connected to the bolt 3d of the clampingplate tfi fcr clampingthe side bars it of the bows together and againsttheilaterally inward side of the clamping platet6;v

Circurnposed about the hows-3i], 3i; ti and tt a cover i cl which isdetachahly secured'to the: hows by means of the pointed securing elements at, Figure 8. As shown in Figure 1, the coverizi is securedto the bows in suchia; manner that upon extension of the bows-into their divergentipositions with respect to: each other, the. cover is drawn taut.

The bases-38 onthe'clainping plates havesdepending opposed hook flanges 38 and 49 which converge toward one end thereof to provide a ta pered channel Ell'for receiving a wedge shaped lug fi iin-a bracket- 51 which may he in the form plate: 35'embodying a: helical spring at uinposed on" the bolt 34 and vcompressed .b'ee

illustrated in Figure 9, which is adapted for manent securement to opposite sides a boat. The bracket Figure 9, is provided with spaced, screw-receiving apertures 52 and 53 for effecting the permanent securement of the bracket 5! to the boat.

In Figure there is shown a modified form of the locking hinge means illustrated in Figures 5"-and:6. In'zthe modified forrn, thesleeve provided witlrthe'endnotchtt" and slot and the stop 27 is replaced by a sleeve 5" which is circumposed about the section ll of the cross bar l5'andis inounted on the latter for longitudinal movement into and out of engagement with the registrableslots-M provided in the plates ti and Error-docking the-sections l1 and ii in the extended position. O'peratively connected to the lockingsleeve 55 is a spring 55 which normally biases the sleeve 55 into engagement within the registrable slots 2 5; as-clearly shown in Figure 10. The securement of the spring 55 to the locking sleeve 'andto thesection-i'l is effected. by means of a transversely extending pin 5? which is can ried by the section li'and secured to oneend of the sprin Theother end of the spring, abuts against the-shoulder 58 provided on the sleeve 5% and thereby urgesi-the-sleeve into engagement withinthe registrable; slots-2-l-: When the see-- tions ii and. ll are towbe: collapsed to theposition illustrated in phantom .lines in Figured, the sleeve iit is manually, grasped and urged'away;

per-

irom the plates 2] and-22'- and out of engagement within the slotst24; whereupon the sections can:- be manually moved into: thecollapsed position:

Referring now-with particularity to Figures 11 and 12, thereis shown acollapsilolecanopy structure: constructed. accordingto the present invert-- tion which is particularly; adapted for use as:-

vehicle "top in lieu of the type -i of stops which em.- ploy one-piece bows. The vehicle top, generally designatedbygthe reference numeral ernood ies aplura-lity of:inverted, U shaped-bows i2 arrangedin spaced; parallel relation with respect to eachother, and eachhavingireeend adapted: for secureinent at'spaced intervals along the open body. 5t of the' vehicle; Each'ot the hows i2 is supportedron theivehicle-body, by of socket 'membersfizs and 63-carriedrat spa-cede in-- tervals along the opposite. sides of the vehicle: loody'ii-l Secured about'the hows-i 2 is "a tarpaulin coverfi lg the securement of-the'cover toithe body; being effected by any suitable. meanasnch as the drawstrings 65-: Eachofthe bowsi 2 em iyed in formingthe'vehicletop-Git includes a rig hinge '25 which enables the bows to be collapsed, asillustrated in Figure4. It is to he noted that thelocking hinge 2E3 employed in the several forms of thew-collapsible:canopy structures ofrthe' present inventionv-mayhe orthe type employing the slottedlocking sleevev 25- or the spring-biased locking sleeve 55;.

Referring now to Figures 13 and-i l; there is shown an: awning 10'- constructed according; to the present invention: 7 The awning; embodies; at least two bows l2, each including either type-oi the locking hinge means m; The free endsoi the side bars l3 of thebows l2- are connected togetherby an assembly similarto the one illustratedin Figure 2Jand'iincluding thetb'olt 34, the clamping plate 35, the spring 39 and the wing nut 40. It is to' be'noted, however that'itlie clamping plate '35 isadapted for 'securement to the window frame ll on one side of the window frame; Similarly; the free ends- 0f the side: bars' M of the bow 12 are connectedtogether byian assembly including bolt 34, clamping plate 36, the spring 42 and the wing nut '43, the clamping plate 36 being adapted to be secured to the window .frame H at a point opposite the point of securement for the clamping plate 35. Secured on the bows I2 is an awning cover 12 which is drawn taut when the ribs are in their extended position at right angles with respect to each other. In the awning 10 either the type of locking hinge including the slotted sleeve 25, or the type including the spring-biased sleeve 55 may be em ployed.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that numerous other modifications of the collapsible canopy structures of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a collapsible canopy, at least two U- shaped bows each comprising a pair of laterally spaced side bars, and a two-section crossbar extending between the side bars, the sections of the crossbar being in axial alignment in the expanded condition of the canopy, the sections of the crossbar having laterally outward ends pivoted to the side bars at one end thereof, the other ends of the side barsat each side of the bows being adapted to be mounted on a support, a cover secured over the bows and extending therebetween, and locking hinge means located between and connecting the laterally inward ends of the crossbar sections, comprising plates fixed on the laterally inward ends of the crossbar sections, a pivot pin traversing said plates and connecting the plates for hinged movement relative to each other, and locking means on one of the crossbar sections engageable with the said plates for releasably locking the crossbar sections in Number axial alignment, said locking means comprising radial slots formed in said plates and arranged to register with the sections in alignment, and a sleeve circumposed on one of the crossbar sections and movable thereon, said sleeve having an end arranged to engage in the slots when registered so as to lock the crossbar sections in alignment.

2. The collapsible canopy according to claim 1 including in addition a stop lug on said one sec tion of the crossbar engaged in a slot formed in the other end of said sleeve for holding said sleeve against longitudinal displacement on said one section of the crossbar and for limiting the rotary movement of said sleeve.

3. The collapsible canopy according to claim 1 including in addition a spring operatively connected to said sleeve for normally biasing said one end of said sleeve into engagement with the slots when registered.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hadley Nov. 17, 1868 Parry May 20, 1879 I-Ieilmann Feb. 13, 1894 Lenney Mar. 17, 1896 Burnham Nov. 15, 1898 Schmidt Feb. 22, 1949 Manger et a1 Nov. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 11, 1891 France July 19, 1913 Number 

